The Bleachers

SENATOR URGES YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN SPORTS

SENATE Committee on Sports Chairman Christopher 'Bong' Go urged Filipino youth to engage in sports instead of indulging in vices such as illegal drugs as he attended the inauguration of the Bahay ni Jawo basketball court in Valenzuela City.

/ 22 May 2022

Nakikiusap ako sa inyo, layuan n’yo po ang iligal na droga. Iyan lang po ang pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte – layuan n’yo po ang iligal na droga dahil kasama na po diyan ‘yung kriminalidad,” said Go in his speech during the event.

“‘Pag maraming durogista, maraming kriminalidad. So, tulungan n’yo po kami. Mag-basketball na lang tayo. Sa sports, maraming matutunan ang kabataan upang maging disiplinado at produktibong miyembro ng lipunan,” he added.

Go also emphasized the detrimental effects of illegal drugs to families and to the society, saying, “‘Pag mayroon pong biktima ng droga sa pamilya, ‘yung isang paa n’yo po wala na… pansinin n’yo po, ‘pag may biktima ng iligal na droga sa pamilya, nasisira po ang pamilya.”

Kaya kami na po ang nakikiusap ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, layuan n’yo po ang iligal na droga… Delikado po ‘yang drogang ‘yan,” he continued.

During his visit, Go’s team also distributed basketball and volleyball shoes to select attendees in order to encourage them to engage in sports.

The inauguration was also attended by Valenzuela City 1st District Representative Wes Gatchalian and 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez, and other local, barangay, and Sangguniang Kabataan officials.

Go then expressed his gratitude to the residents of Valenzuela City for their continuing support for the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.

Salamat sa inyo, mga taga-Valenzuela. Nandirito lang po ako na handang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he concluded.

A staunch advocate of sports development in the country, Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in 2020. 

The said law is in line with Go’s vision of providing a dedicated learning facility where promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting a quality education. The NAS Main Campus is located at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.